Researchers from Sweden analyzed data from 25,555 patients under the age of 65 in order to identify gender-related differences in prognosis and risk factors for myocardial infarction, or heart attack. They found that, compared with male diabetics, female diabetics were more likely to die after a heart attack. Female diabetics were also more likely to smoke and have hypertension, or high blood pressure. Interestingly, the researchers did not find any significant gender-related differences in heart attack mortality in older patients or among patients without diabetes.

This study highlights the importance of improving risk factor management and heart attack prevention in relatively young diabetic women, especially because these women have a worse outcome than men after a heart attack.